Free Love Letters by Emily Murdoch

impact.
    Catheryn was angry.
    “How could you make me look so ridiculous in front of the entire household?” She spat at him as Selwyn put his hands out before him to protect himself. She came towards him furiously. “I thought we were…”
    Her voice trailed off, and Selwyn laughed wryly, but left his hands partially outstretched.
    “Exactly,” he said. “I don’t know what we are. I didn’t know what to expect when you returned.”
    Catheryn sniffed haughtily. “Neither did I, but I wasn’t expecting that.”
    Selwyn raised his eyes to the heavens, and sighed. He didn’t know where he stood with Catheryn, but wherever he was, he hated it. “As soon as we’ve discovered the identity of your romancer, we can just go back to how things were before. It’s much easier being your steward than…whatever this is.”
    Catheryn felt like she’d been punched in the stomach. Her jaw fell open.
    “I understand,” she said finally. “I’ll be relieved to finally find out who this man is. He evidently has soul, and wisdom. I think I may be falling in love with him anyway.”
    Now it was Selwyn’s turn to be astonished. “You think you’re falling in love with him? You’ve never met him!”
    “His words speak for themselves,” Catheryn shot back. “He clearly adores me, and that is good enough for me.”
    Selwyn spluttered. “Good enough for you?” He took a step forward, and Catheryn was once again reminded of just how... male he was. “Good enough for you?”
    By this point, there were only inches between Selwyn and Catheryn. Catheryn tried to look away from his deep piercing eyes, but it was as if they were drawn back there every time she attempted to look away. There was something in them, something dark and passionate and wonderful.
    “The thing is, Catheryn,” Selwyn said quietly, and Catheryn had to lean slightly closer to him to hear what he was saying, “that you don’t deserve anyone.”
    “What? How dare you – ”
    “You misunderstand me,” he said, stopping her from continuing. “It is not that you do not deserve to be happy. It is that no one alive has yet earned the privilege and honour of being with you. You are a diamond amongst dirt, and when you do find someone…”
    Selwyn’s right hand reached up, slightly trembling, to push a wayward wisp of hair back under Catheryn’s veil. Where his skin touched hers, they both felt a tingle and a slight burn.
    “…he will lack nothing. At this very moment, he lacks but thee.”
    Catheryn put a hand out towards him, but it was intercepted by one of Selwyn’s own. It pressed something cold into her warm palm, and then he was gone.
    She looked around her as if she had imagined it. But no, within her hand was the proof that he had been there, that he had said those heady, wonderful things. It was a piece of parchment. Catheryn unfolded it, and read the words that caused a thrill to chase down her spine and into her very toes.
    Past are his woes , he has won through his perils ,
    He lives in plenty , no pleasure he lacks ;
    Nor horses nor goods nor gold of the mead - hall ;
    All the wealth of earls upon earth
    Belongs to my lord , he lacks but thee .

 
    Chapter Ten
     
    The day had dawned bright and full of bird song, but there were two people that had barely slept. Dark circles ringed their eyes, and their snatched sleep had been filled with tormenting dreams and faces that they did not choose to recognise.
    Catheryn and Selwyn did not look their best that morning as the household came together to break their fast.
    “My word, Catheryn,” said her mother. “You do not look well at all.”
    “I had trouble sleeping,” Catheryn replied firmly. “I am quite well, thank you my lady mother.”
    Hilda looked as if she wanted to enquire further, but after a small shake of his head from her husband, she returned to her meal, turning her fretful mind instead to the coolness of the morning.
    As soon as it was polite to do so, Catheryn left the